Card-mounting means



Jan. 11 1927.

c. c. GRUHLER CARD MOUNTING MEANS Filed August 10. 1925 Patented Jan'.11, 1927.

UNETED STATES CHARLES C. GRUHLER, OF FORT THOMAS. KENTUCKY;

CARD-MOUN TING MEANS.

Application filed August 10, 1925. Serial No. 49,399.

The invention relates to improvements in means for mounting index andanalogous cards upon supports, such as slide trays of filing cabinets,the principal object being to provide simple and inexpensive yetefiicient means for pivotally and detachably mounting the cards in sucha manner that they may readily be relatively adjusted for the insertionor removal of cards and may be swung about their pivots to expose eitherof their sides for use.

With the :toreging in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, the description beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevation disclosing the invention in use for mounting aplurality of cards upon a tray.

Figure 2 is a side view.

Figure 3 is an end elevation partly in section as indicated by line 3-3of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a detail elevation similar to a portion of Fig. 3 butillustrating the manner in which the card-carrying clips may be readilyengaged with or disengaged from tracks which are mounted on the supportor tray.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner in which thecard may be readily swung upon its pivotal mounting means.

Figure 6 is an elevation partly broken away, showing one of the cardsand the clipcarried pivot pins thereof.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates asupport which may be considered as a sliding tray or drawer of a filingcabinet. Secured to this tray, are two parallel tracks 2, said trackshaving overhanging side walls 3, disposed in laterally spaced relation.Below these tracks is a shelf 1 upon which the lowermost of the cards,hereinafter described, may Spring clips 4 are readily engageable withand disengageable from the tracks 2, each clip being preferably formedfrom a single spring-metal strip whose central portion. is bentsubstantially upon itself in the form of a U as indicated at 5, thearmportions 6 of the U being bent outwardly at 7 substantially uponthemselves with extensions to provide a pair of outer, relativelymovable arms 8, the free ends of these arms convergin at 8' and thenterminating in diverging relation-as indicated at 8 to engage the rest.-

outer sides of the walls 3. By grasping the outer ends of the clip tbetween the thumb and the forefinger, it may be lateraly compressed sothat its end portions 8' 8 will be separated and may be readilydisengaged from the track or engaged with it as occasion may demand.

The portions 6 and 7 of each clip 4 are formed with alined openings 9,the openings of the numerous clips receiving pivot pins 10 in aremovable manner. carried by additional spring-metal clips 11 whichdetachably engage corners of the cards 12. As long as the clips 4: forany card, are engaged with the tracks 2, the pins 10 cannot move out ofthe openings 9 unless the card is first disengaged from one or the otherof its clips 11. When this is done, however, or when pins 10 for anycard are disengaged from the clips 4, removal of any card and its pivotpins is permitted, yet the clips 4 for carrying such card may be left inthe tracks 2, readily indicating the point from which the card has beenremoved, thus greatly facilitating'itsreinsertion or the insertion ofanother card to take its place. Also, if desired, if a card is in wrongalphabetical arrangement, the card and clips 4: are removed from thetrack 2. Then, the balance of the cards are pushed up or down the clips4 sliding on the track 2 so that the space for replacement of the cardis in proper place and the clips 1 are put on track 2 and the card putin. This also permits re moval of cards no longer required, and thesubstitution of other cards in another place.

Considering the members 11 in another light, they may be termed springsteel slipon clips with pin extensions 10. They can be removed fromdiscarded cards and used again, or readily replaced if broken ordamaged. Whenever desired, the cards may be swung about their pivots sothat either their front or rear sides are accessible, and this pivotalmovement permits cards overlying any other card or cards to be swungback to give access to the latter. By having the clips 11 slidablyengageable with or disconnectable from the cards 12, a typewriter maywell be used, in making entries on such cards, should this be desired.Moreover, the cards may be kept compactly stacked before their use isnecessary and a number of the clips 11 with pivot pins 10 may becompactly retained in an appropriate container. Then, whenever a newcard is necessary, it; may

These pins are be takeni'rorn the stack and a pair of clips applied toit. The detachable connection between the clips 4 and 11 is not only ofadvantage in adding and removing the cards, but permits the clips 4 tobe kept segreg ted from other parts of the device so that two or moremay be readily, located Whenever their use is required.

The invention is exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet isveryvefiicient; and desirble, and as excellentresults may be obtained fromthe general construction shown, such construction is by preferencefollowed. However, within the scope of the invention as claimed,modifications may, lie-made.

It maybe added, that itdesired, thetraelr; 2 may downwardly taperasshown in 2, permitting the cardsto lie flatupon each other for usewhile. still attachedito the holding means.

1. In a means for mounting a plurality of index or analogous.cards lon asupport; parallelrtracks carried by, the supporna pair,

ofspring clipsior each *ard 1eat iily ei1 gageable with disengageahlefrom said tracks, additional pair of spring clips detachably engaged,vwith: corners o'fi each card, and detachablepivotal connections hetveen, the track-engaging and *arden'gagi rig clipsi Ina meansformountinga plurality oi;

index o -analogous, cards on a support; parallel tracks oirthesuppprthaving overhang ing side Walls, a pair of spring clip; for eachcard provided With relatively movable arms engaging said overhangingside walls, said clips being removableitrom the tracks by efi'ectingrelative lateral movement of their arms, and pivots connecting each cardwith its respective clips.

3. In a means for mounting a plurality of index or analogous cards on asupport; paralleltracks on the support having overhang; ing side Walls,a pair of spring clips for earn card providedwith relatively movahiearms engaging said overhanging side \i'al;, said clips being removable,from the true; by eii'ectingspreading their arms, and pivots connectingeach card with its respective clips.

4.. A structure as specified in claim each clip comprising a singlespring mctal striphaving its central portion bent into i shape, and itsendportions hent outwariiiy f1 and hack against the sides of thet. andc1- tended beyond the arm-connectingportion or the U to provide saidrelatively movable arms, thei ree ends of the latter: heins lient toproperly shape, them for engagement with the overhanging side walls, 015the coacting track, the double sider portions oi' the U having alinedopenings removahly receiving said ,card; pivots.

In testimonywhercoflhaye hereunto ati'ixed my signature.

CHARLES o. GRUHLlCl-i.

